REPRODUCTIVE POTENTIAL AND EGG LAYING PERFORMANCE OF QUAIL IN SAVANNAH ECOLOGICAL ZONE OF GHANA

Abstract

The purpose of the research was to ascertain the reproductive potential and egg-laying performance Japanese quails, given the ideal management and feeding conditions in the savannah ecological zone of Ghana. The research was fashioned to cover both wet and dry seasons which are experienced in the region. 50-day-old chicks were used for the experiment in both seasons, and parameters on reproduction and egg-laying performance were studied. The overall mean values for Average Daily Gain in both wet and dry seasons were 3.64g and 2.92g respectively; whereas feed conversion ratio was 3.88g and 5.07g for wet and dry seasons respectively. The mean age of the birds at which the first egg was laid was 58 days and 56 days in wet and dry seasons respectively. It was observed in both seasons that, the total number of eggs laid increased as the weeks of lay progressed. There was no significant variation (p≥0.05) among all the external egg traits studied in both the wet and dry seasons except for egg weight which approached significance (p=0.05). With records of Hen-Day values being 72.04% and 88.33%, 62.54% and 87.63% accordingly in the first and second months of lay in the wet and dry season respectively; it was observed from this study that, the savanna ecological zone of Ghana presents very desirable climate and natural conditions for quail production as there was no significant effect of dry and wet seasons on the reproduction and egg-laying performance of quails.